By Barbara Dee
Spotlight image: Barbara Dee at the 2021 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.
If you write middle grade fiction, chances are good that at some point someone will ask: “Do you ever plan to write for grownups?”
It’s a question that always irks. I think what’s behind it is the assumption that writing for grownups is something to aspire to,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Barbara Dee on the Sound of Middle Grade: Getting the Voice »
I’m excited to reveal the book trailer for Cynsations’ own Suma Subramaniam‘s debut picture book, Namaste Is A Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, Oct. 11, 2022).
From the publisher’s description:
What is namaste? It’s found in a smile,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Charlesbridge, 2022).
Author/Illustrator Insights
It’s Never Too Late: Seven Authors on Making Their YA Debuts After Age 50 by Julia Edelstein from Publishers Weekly.
Congratulations to April Henry on Two Truths and a Lie (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022), an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best YA.
Take a look back at April’s advice on tension, originally published in December 2010 and reposted in March 2014, it remains the most-viewed writing craft post in Cynsations history.
Not too far off the beaten track in Austin, visitors are welcomed to The Writing Barn retreat center, a place where deer wander the meadows, the buildings are air conditioned and rooms are filled with bookshelves. There, thirteen Native participants gathered the weekend of Aug. 4 to Aug.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Patricia Morris Buckley on the We Need Diverse Books Native Intensive »
We’re thrilled to welcome Jyoti Rajan Gopal to Cynsations.
When you look back on your writing journey, what are the changes that stand out?
There are several moments that stand out!
I knew that children’s publishing was extremely hard to break into,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Jyoti Rajan Gopal Reflects on Owning Her Identity as a Writer »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane (Levine Querido, 2022).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Congratulations to Melanie Crowder on her new young adult novel, Jumper (Viking, June 2022)! It received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. Melanie recently joined the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults program.
Take a look back at Melanie’s thoughts on her debut novel,
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Melanie Crowder on Parched »
Featured image: Melissa Coffey signing advance copies at the 2022 Texas Library Association Conference.
Today I’m pleased to welcome two Austin authors to Cynsations, Melissa Coffey and Kristin Wauson. Melissa is the debut author of Fridge-Opolis, illustrated by Josh Cleland (Little Bee Books,
Continue Reading New Voices: Melissa Coffey & Kristin Wauson on SCBWI’s Role in their Journeys »
I’m thrilled to welcome author Kellye Crocker to Cynsations! Like me, she’s a Vermont College of Fine Arts alumnx more than a decade past graduation. Her debut middle grade novel, Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties (Albert Whitman & Company, October 2022) features practical tips on mindfulness and managing anxiety shared through a hilarious,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Kellye Crocker Uses a Light Touch for a Serious Subject »